(Spirit Lake)– Police are looking for whoever’s responsible for an early morning break-in at a Spirit Lake business and the theft of two vehicles.
Police Chief Dan Thomsen tells KUOO news it all started around 2:00 a.m. Monday when someone climbed a fence on the north side of Consumer’s Hardware. From there, access was gained to a van that was driven to a loading dock. An overhead door to the dock was forced open and entry was gained to a showroom where several thousands of dollars worth of power tools were taken. The items were put in the van which was driven through a fence. A police officer noticed a tail light was smashed on the vehicle and tried to stop it as it was eastbound on 15th street. At that point, a pursuit started. The driver parked the van at the corner of 20th street and Chicago Avenue and fled on foot. Police were unable to locate the subject, but they did recover the stolen merchandise.
An hour or so later, police received a report that a pickup was in the process of being stolen from 19th street and Boston Avenue. There was another pursuit. The driver parked the pickup in a front yard at 20th street and Erie Avenue and fled on foot. There was an extensive search, but authorities again came up empty handed.
Thomsen says they don’t have a good description on who it is they’re looking for. He says the windows were fogged up on the vehicles.
An undetermined amount of damage was reported to the van owned by Consumer’s; no damage was reported to the pickup.
An investigation continues.
